Cat Husbandry Flashcards
Pedigree foreign group
Eg bengal, sphynx, Devon Rex
Pedigree oriental group
Oriental and Siamese
Pedigree Persian and Burmese groups
Persian, tonkinese
Pedigree cats- British breeds
British shorthair, Manx
Pedigree cats- semi longhair
Rag doll, Maine cool, Norwegian forest
Diet of cats
Obligate carnivores, cannot synthesise taurine and vitamin A so it must be sourced from meet
What is the normal feeding behaviour of cats
Cats are suited to grazing, usually snack 10-16 times a day
What is the gestation period of cats?
63 days
Queening/ kittening
When cats sneak away to give birth in private
Kitten care
Nurse from queen every 1-2 hours, open eyes and ears at 14 days
Lactation
Nutritionally demanding, colostrum produced in the first 24-36 hours, may lose body weight
Weaning
Begins at 3-4 weeks of age, commercial weaning food small amounts and fully weaned at 8 weeks
Maturation
Most cats are 75% grown at 6 months of age, fully grown at a year
What age is a senior diet recommended
8-10 years
What can feline obesity result in?
diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and
exacerbation of osteoarthritis
seasonally polyoestrous
Can have multiple cycles throughout the year
Induced ovulates
Can ovulate due to external stimuli rather than on a cycle
How many times may a cat snack throughout the day?
10-16 times
What is an opportunistic drinker?
Dont drink that often
When should you start feeding a pregnant queen kitten food?
From 4 weeks onwards
How often do cats spend ‘hunting’/ prowling etc
25%
Catnip
Cat’s have an intense attraction to the plant
» Often dried, put into cat toys
» Contains nepetalactone; has distinct behavioural effects on cats
» Inhaled or consumed: cats dribble, become sleepy, or even display energetic behaviour (such as
jumping around and sprinting)
How long do the effects of catnip last?
15 minutes at maximum
When should kittens be vaccinated?
from 8-9 weeks, they get 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart
What do the cat vaccines cover?
feline infectious enteritis, feline herpes virus (cat flu), feline calicivirus (cat flu),
+ feline leukaemia virus (outdoor)
What is stropping?
dragging claws against a rough surface to sharpen claws/remove old outer sheath
How many mating’s do cats usually require for pregnancy?
3-4
What age should kittens begin to be handled?
From 2 weeks
What does BARF stand for?
Biologically appropriate raw food
